Author: BrJames

13Jan

Another Traditionalist Church plans to swing left

From the Living Church comes this sad news:  “The Rt. Rev. James Jelinek, interim rector of St. Paul’s Parish, K Street [in Washington, DC], since August 2013, has written about the parish entering a phase of discernment about women’s ordination to the priesthood and same-sex marriage.”

Up until this time, “…in order to keep our focus on what unites us — the centrality of the Eucharist and our mission as the Body of Christ — we have tended to avoid addressing some critical issues, including the role of women clergy at St. Paul’s and the blessing of same-sex unions/marriages. During the current transition, we have begun to explore these questions.”

I think it is probably foregone how the discernments will conclude, and there is probably no stopping the progressive steamroller here as has been the case in other churches that have fallen.  Still, we should pray for this church and hope that they can keep that centrality of focus on Eucharist and mission to which they had been holding up to this point.

Read it all here: http://www.livingchurch.org/changes-st-paul’s-k-st

 

12Jan

Joy

Joy does not simply happen to us. We have to choose joy and keep choosing it every day”

HENRI J.M.NOUWEN,  Dutch priest, professor and writer

11Jan

Unbroken: The rest of the story

 

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The movie directed by Angelina Jolie tells of the remarkable experiences of Louis Zamperini during WWII. Apparently something remarkable happened after the war, as well.

His marriage on the rocks, his life in shambles, he went to a meeting by the evangelist Billy Graham:

“The moment the invitation began, he grabbed his wife’s hand and headed toward the exit. But in the aisle, overwhelmed by the realization of how broken his life had become, he turned around and gave his life to Jesus Christ in repentance and faith. He left the tent with God’s complete forgiveness.

“From that day forward, everything changed. He started reading the Bible. His nightmares disappeared, he gave up drinking, his hatred and violent anger melted away, and he began to live for Christ.”

Read it all: http://billygraham.org/story/franklin-graham-the-rest-of-the-unbroken-story/?SOURCE=BL151YEBL&utm_source=prayer+letter+email&utm_medium=bgemail&utm_campaign=bgemailnewsletter&content=12.30.14

08Jan

End of Days

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While trapped on an airplane, my youngest son happened to start watching the History channel’s take on the book of Revelation, called “Revelation: The End of Days”. Once again, it amazes me how one particular view of eschatology, and a minority one at that, seems to get all the press.

Here again, we have the pre-tribulation rapture, followed by a rise of an anti- Christ in government (a FEMA- like entity, no less). There are some clever takes on the nature of the first beast (a seven headed bacteria, unleashed by the FEMA- like entity to aid its rise to power).

The show was respectful of Christians, which is always welcome. Although, on the other hand, I have to say that the Christians portrayed here are not typical clean cut churchgoers, but rather your scruffy “Doomsday prepper”
cults. The production quality was what you would expect of a made-for-TV disaster movie or mockumentary. There was a bit too much jerky handheld camera footage for my taste. Still, for airplane entertainment, one could do worse. “Pass the pretzels, son.”

07Jan

Epiphany Greetings

Welcome to this blog, in the name of Him whose  revelations of glory we celebrate at the Feast of Epiphany.  I am Brother James, a professional, a scholar (see below), a lover of music and beauty, an amateur photographer, a father and husband, and above all, a Christian believer.  It is my faith that has propelled me to undertake this endeavor.  Within the church I have worn many hats (teacher, worship leader, choir member, preacher, and now, a kind of cyber-missionary).  I hope that you will be blessed by what you find here.  Regardless of the current condition of your faith, I wish you well.

(Full disclosure here: My scholarly activities are not in theology; and I use the moniker “brother” as a way of emphasizing my equality with other believers, rather than adopting other titles that I cannot claim a right to use (such as “reverend”, or “bishop”), however, by this use I am not suggesting that I have taken vows in any monastic orders).